The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-06-11

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statuary and inscriptions, with curiosities,
antique and modern, and scientific and other
interesting objects, in number like the
leaves upon a tree. IF any of my COM
panions wish to examine every object there
is in the British Museum, they must give
up the rest of London.
Another collection, almost as large, and
more interesting to many persons, is the
South Kensington Museum.
This museum is mostly devoted to OBJ
jects of art, and contains both ancient and
modern specimens of architecture, paintings,
statues, beautiful potteryof every kind, and
enough things worth looking at and study
ing to tire out the legs and brains of any
human being who should try to see them
all at one time.
In Regents Park, large inclosure to
the north of Hyde Park, are the geological
Gardens, which are in many respects more
interesting than those of Paris, and are
very admirably arranged for the convenience
both of the visitors and of the animals.
Here the animals have more room to move
about than is usual in menageries. There
are elephants and camels which carry ladies
and children up and down the grounds; aud
we shall see some fine Bengal tigers, be-
longing to the Prince of Wales, in great
open-air inclosure so large that they almost
seem to be at liberty, and they walk about
and bound over trunks of trees as if they
were in their Indian homes. At feeding
time, which is in the afternoon, this whole
place is in state of rampage, the animals
requiring no dinner bell to let them know
what time it is.
Another interesting place, where the
creatures require no food are not at all
dangerous, is Madame Tussaud's Wax-work
Show. Here we shall see life-size figures
of famous men and women from all parts
of the world, Richard the Lion-hearted,
President Lincoln, Queen Elizabeth, Get
awayo, Gladstone and Guiteau, and many
other welLknown people. Whenever a
person does anything that makes him
famous, wax portrait figure ofhim, dressed
in the same kind of clothes he wears, is set
up in this gallery, among the crowd of
kings, queens, warriors, statesmen, and
criminals already here. Here is figure
of Cobbett, the English politician, sitting
upon one of the long benches placed for the
accommodation of visitors. By means of |
machinery inside of him, his head every
now and then moves quickly to one side,
as if he were looking around to see who is
there He is large man, of benevolent
appearance, wearing broad hrimmed hat
like Quaker's, and it is considered very
good joke when some visitor, thinking him
real man, sits down by him, and isstartled
at the sudden turn of his head. This is a
great London res ort, for nearly everybody
wants to know how eminent people look,
and what kind of clothes they wear.
Wem also visit the great London
markets, one of which, called Covent |
Garden, is devoted to vegetables, fruit, and
flowers and these are brought in so vast
numbers, and there are so lively scenes
among the crowds of purchasers, that many
strangers, who have no idea of buying,
come here in the early mornings simply to
witness the spectacle. There is also Smith
field Market, building covering three and
a half acres, with a garden and fountain in |
the center, where we see exposed for sale |
the meat of oxen, calves, hogs and sheep. |
In the Billingsgate Market we see fish in
such quantities that we can scarcely imagine
how city which eats so much fish can
possibly want any meat. Leadenhall Market
is given up entirely to poultry and game
while another of the many London markets
is devoted in great part to the sale of water
crosses Near Smithfeld Market is the
old market-place where many famous per-
sons were burned at the stake.
While we are in this part of the town,
we must stop for time at the Guildhall,
the ancient Town Hall of London, where
there is museum of curious things con-
nected with old London, and where We
may still see the queer wooden giants, Cog
and Magog.
Leaving the noisy city and the crowded
business portions Of London, it is a great
relief to take hansome cab, open in front,
with driver sitting out of our sight be-
hind, and to roll swiftly over the smooth
streets of the West End, as it is called,
where the rich and fashionable people live
Here we find a great many squares"
which are little inclosed parks with streets
and dwelling houses all around them and
farther to the west we come to long streets
and avenues, where the houses have front
gardens, and often back gardens, and where
everything is as quiet, and almost as rural,
as in country village. Here, if we do
not know London, we NAV think that we
are in the suburbs, and that we need not
go far to get into the country; but, if we
turn up side street, and go block or two,
we shall come upon long, noisy business
street, crowded with people, vehicles, and
shops, and find ourselves in another of the
great business quarters of London. To get
out Of London and London life is not easy,
and after strolling for hours we still see
London stretching out before us, as if it
would say, "Here l am, and if you want
to see the end of me, you must walk
long, long way yet.
There are many places outside of Lon
don to which we must certainly go, and
one of these is the Crystal Palace. In
this great glass building we may see miles
of interesting things connected with archi-
lecture, art, and nature. Theatrical per-
formances also are given here, and concerts,
and sometimes grand shows of fireworks.
Then there is Hampton Court, an old
palace built by Cardinal Wolsey, with very
beautiful grounds and garden, laid out in
the old-fashioned style. There we may
wander in the walks and under the trees
where 'tbluff King Hail. and, later, Charles
|, wandered with their courtiers.
At Windsor Castle, the residence of
Queen Victoria, we shall spend day and,
the Queen may not be likely to
ask us in, we shall see great deal Of the
building in which the sover-
eigns of England, from as far back as
Edward III. have lived.
Then we must go to Richmond, charm
ing village on the Thames, where all Lon
don people go, and where there is beau
tiful park and view.
We may also visit Greenwich, at longi-
tude nothing, of which we have also read
in our magazines. and 90 to the celebrated